Summer 2019 Free Agency Thread

[mhunt]

guys, help me out with the horford thing. if butler stays, wouldn't the sixers have to renounce everyone else to fit horford under the cap at $20m-25m per (before re-signing butler)? that's the way it's looking on the capulator. if so, we'd be looking at losing not only harris, but redick & scott as well in order to sign horford? is that correct?
i'm hoping i did something wrong on there.

You're correct. But that doesn't matter. I'm not sure why people think Mike Scott is some kind of must have player. The guy was a -2 player last year. That means he's worth the vet min and totally replaceable.

Redick is a loss, but he's going to be 35 next year, so if we lose him its no big deal. And I think there could be a chance to keep him anyway with a vet min, because next summer we'll have full bird rights for him and can give him a large 1 year deal to make him whole. The Spurs did this exact thing w/Ginobili when they needed to use cap room elsewhere.

haven't heard many labeling scott as a must have, but i agree...he's replaceable. so they would have to renounce everyone...and their mle would be $4.7m instead of $9.0m...and they would not have the bae, i believe. yeah, they'd really need to get lucky on some guys accepting deals at the min for that to work.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

So, now we are seeking the opinion of Donovan Mitchell?

Can't wait to see what other "experts" we start following over the coming days.

Just a heads up, Mitchell is with CAA, who also represent CP3, so if he knows something it's coming from CP3 who may or may not be talking to Butler.

[hookshot199]

Jimmy Butler is a gifted player. That's not the point. He doesn't help maximize Joel Embiid and/or especially Ben Simmons on offense. He actually competes against them for the ball and space on the court. Even if you're of the mind that Jimmy Butler is worth Max salary well into his thirties, there has to be some acknowledgement that those three players cause each other to provide diminished returns on court. The 76ers should be in the business of accentuating Simmons and Embiid, not paying premium prices to put players in that they can't coexist on court.

It is my view, assuming there is truth to the Butler S&T reports, that Ainge and the Celtics will be in the middle of the eventual outcome. If reports are accurate that Ainge has targeted Kemba Walker and that he will make announcement on shortly after free-agency opens on Sunday night, the Celtics will have, assuming they extend Kemba a $32 mil max deal, around $106 mil on their payroll not counting the 33 pick.

Assuming Horford leaves (seems likely) and in light of trading Baynes to Phoenix, the Celtics won't have a center, starting or backup. I'm not counting Williams, and Tatum is small as a 4.

Of course Ainge has options using one of the exceptions, but the max he can go (if I understand the MLE rules correctly) is around $9 mil.

So then the question is: What is Ainge willing to part with to bring Capella and his $15 mil contract to Boston? Does he even want Capella? And if not, what other options is he considering and at what price? There are a slew of free-agent centers out there, some like Vucevic are out of his price range.

https://hoopshype.com/2019/06/21/nba-free-agency-2019-centers/

And then with respect to the Sixers: Can Morey convince Ainge to send Smart or Jaylen Brown to Philly as part of a three-way deal. I would love Smart if we could get him. He would provide Jimmy-like toughness. He is 25 and under contract for another three years. I also like Jaylen Brown, who apparently wasn't happy last season with reduced minutes as Brad Stevens tried to reintegrate damaged-goods Hayward and is due for a payday soon as a restricted free agent, thus under team control for whoever tries to sign him.

I don't know what other third team options are available, but I would surely consider Brown or Smart, a Houston pick and perhaps something from the Celtics. Downside: Ainge tries to win every deal. But if Jimmy wants to walk, the ball's pretty much in Morey's court to make it happen.

I'm not in favor of bringing in Gordon if we're re-signing JJ.


Celtics guaranteed Salaries for 2019-20 season (amended from the Boston Sports Journal)

Gordon Hayward: $32.7 million
Marcus Smart: $12.6 million
Jayson Tatum: $7.8 million
Jaylen Brown: $6.5 million
Guerschon Yabusele: $3.1 million
Robert Williams: $1.9 million
Semi Ojeleye: $1.3 million
No. 14 pick: $3.45 million
No. 22 pick: $2.38 million
No. 33 pick: (no cap hold)
Cap Hold 1: $897,000
Cap Hold 2: $897,000
Cap Hold 3: $897,000

Guaranteed money committed: $72.2 million to seven players, two draft slots and three minimum cap holds.
Not counting Kemba Walker.

From Boston's perspective it is very simple. Once they sign Kemba Walker to the MAX they'll be capped out. They'll have the Room Ex to use. After that if they want in on the Jimmy deal to get Capela, they have to trade out either Marcus Smart, or Jaylen Brown + Yabusele + R. Williams.

So, Smart will make $12 mil vs Capela $15 mil vs Jaylen Brown $6.5 mil+Yabusele $3.1 mil+Williams $1.9 mil=$11.5 mil

I have no idea whether Ainge is in a trading mode. But it wouldn't surprise me if he is - since the Celtics don't have
a center - that Capela for Brown or Smart, probably Brown + change, might be in the works.

Capela doesn't 3's, but does many other things well. And the Room exception could be used to toward a backup 4/5
and make them competitive. Again, I don't know what exceptions they have.

[Sixerscan]

In my opinion, If Horford is an option and a 4 year deal is in play, they can’t bring back Jimmy on 5 year max.

I don’t think he’s as good a fit for us. Like if guys leave and he wants to come at a swallowable number I’m not gonna turn him down but it makes more sense for the Kings.

Al Horford is a better player than Tobias Harris. We'd be better for the next couple of years with Horford, although probably not after that as father time wins out.

Not sure how much more power forward Horford will be able to play. The knee stuff scares me too. That gap could close quick. Certainly wouldn’t want him over Harris and Redick Scott and the extra midlevel no thanks

[taj2133]

Read on Twitter

[AirP.]

From Boston's perspective it is very simple. Once they sign Kemba Walker to the MAX they'll be capped out. They'll have the Room Ex to use. After that if they want in on the Jimmy deal to get Capela, they have to trade out either Marcus Smart, or Jaylen Brown + Yabusele + R. Williams.

Yeah, there's been some small rumblings of a Hayward/S.Adams swap.

[fl311]

So, now we are seeking the opinion of Donovan Mitchell?

Can't wait to see what other "experts" we start following over the coming days.

Just a heads up, Mitchell is with CAA, who also represent CP3, so if he knows something it's coming from CP3 who may or may not be talking to Butler.

So is Embiid. Maybe he’s the leak.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

So, now we are seeking the opinion of Donovan Mitchell?

Can't wait to see what other "experts" we start following over the coming days.

Just a heads up, Mitchell is with CAA, who also represent CP3, so if he knows something it's coming from CP3 who may or may not be talking to Butler.

So is Embiid. Maybe he’s the leak.

Who knows, but I'd believe the players inside info and speaking candidly than I would guys who are just trying to drive up ESPN's traffic.

Iguodala said nobody is going to the Knicks, and I believe him

[Sixerscan]

Lol like half the league is CAA

[NYSixersFan]

Why the heck would we want to pay big money to Horford?

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Why the heck would we want to pay big money to Horford?

I guess it's Embiid insurance, and he's also one of the better Giannis defenders in the league.

Seems like a weird thing to do though, they should be looking at Simmons as their future 4 and chasing after wings/guards. I don't know how much time Horford can spend at the 4 as he gets older and the position gets quicker.

[hookshot199]

From Boston's perspective it is very simple. Once they sign Kemba Walker to the MAX they'll be capped out. They'll have the Room Ex to use. After that if they want in on the Jimmy deal to get Capela, they have to trade out either Marcus Smart, or Jaylen Brown + Yabusele + R. Williams.

Yeah, there's been some small rumblings of a Hayward/S.Adams swap.

I think anyone who believes that Hayward can be moved for anything less than John Wall's
or Kevin Love's contract is not steeped in reality.

[Arsenal]

From Boston's perspective it is very simple. Once they sign Kemba Walker to the MAX they'll be capped out. They'll have the Room Ex to use. After that if they want in on the Jimmy deal to get Capela, they have to trade out either Marcus Smart, or Jaylen Brown + Yabusele + R. Williams.

Yeah, there's been some small rumblings of a Hayward/S.Adams swap.

I think anyone who believes that Hayward can be moved for anything less than John Wall's
or Kevin Love's contract is not steeped in reality.

If they can, they should absolutely trade Hayward for Kevin Love. Then they should trade Brown + Yabs + R. Williams for Capela. Then resign Morris with the Room after using their cap on Kemba. Then resign Theis and Wanamaker w/bird rights. Their new lineup:

PG Walker | Wanamaker | ???
SG Smart | Ojeleye | Langford
SF Tatum | Morris | ???
PF Love | Theis | G. Williams
CE Capela | ??? | ???

That team could be better than they were last year.

[smittybanton]

I like watching Kemba Walker play and will be sad if he goes to Boston.

I also want Boston and other teams to fall down so we get OKC's first round pick next year OKC20(x20).

[AirP.]

From Boston's perspective it is very simple. Once they sign Kemba Walker to the MAX they'll be capped out. They'll have the Room Ex to use. After that if they want in on the Jimmy deal to get Capela, they have to trade out either Marcus Smart, or Jaylen Brown + Yabusele + R. Williams.

Yeah, there's been some small rumblings of a Hayward/S.Adams swap.

I think anyone who believes that Hayward can be moved for anything less than John Wall's
or Kevin Love's contract is not steeped in reality.

Or OKC understands the timeline for the recovery from Hayward's injury, they do have P.George to consult with who went through nearly the same thing. Oh yeah, and they seem to be good with sending out a defensive center who makes 24 million to take a shot on Hayward.

[LloydFree]

Lol like half the league is CAA

But everyone hates Rich Paul for controlling the movement of about 10 players. SMH.

[hookshot199]

Yeah, there's been some small rumblings of a Hayward/S.Adams swap.

I think anyone who believes that Hayward can be moved for anything less than John Wall's
or Kevin Love's contract is not steeped in reality.

Or OKC understands the timeline for the recovery from Hayward's injury, they do have P.George to consult with who went through nearly the same thing. Oh yeah, and they seem to be good with sending out a defensive center who makes 24 million to take a shot on Hayward.

And Hayward makes $32.7 and $34.2 the next two years. I think at a minimum they would have
to wait until next June, when he becomes an expiring, and then include the Memphis pick to move
that contract. OKC wants to win now.

[Arsenal]

Why the heck would we want to pay big money to Horford?

I guess it's Embiid insurance, and he's also one of the better Giannis defenders in the league.

Seems like a weird thing to do though, they should be looking at Simmons as their future 4 and chasing after wings/guards. I don't know how much time Horford can spend at the 4 as he gets older and the position gets quicker.

Al Horford is a much better player than Tobias Harris. He's a perfect fit as a stretch-4 in the starting lineup, who can also be the backup 5 when Embiid sits. Plus he would come cheaper than Harris who wants an undeserved MAX.

The only downside is the age difference w/Horford going into his age 33 season, plus we'd have to go under the cap so likely lose 1-2 bench pieces we could otherwise get with the MLE. That's just a one year problem though as we could fill out our bench next summer.

But then Horford would 1 year older (going into this age 34 season) so there is that.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Why the heck would we want to pay big money to Horford?

I guess it's Embiid insurance, and he's also one of the better Giannis defenders in the league.

Seems like a weird thing to do though, they should be looking at Simmons as their future 4 and chasing after wings/guards. I don't know how much time Horford can spend at the 4 as he gets older and the position gets quicker.

Al Horford is a much better player than Tobias Harris. He's a perfect fit as a stretch-4 in the starting lineup, who can also be the backup 5 when Embiid sits. Plus he would come cheaper than Harris who wants an undeserved MAX.

The only downside is the age difference w/Horford going into his age 33 season, plus we'd have to go under the cap so likely lose 1-2 bench pieces we could otherwise get with the MLE. That's just a one year problem though as we could fill out our bench next summer.

But then Horford would 1 year older (going into this age 34 season) so there is that.

If you're losing Harris I'd still be looking at players that could bump Simmons up to the 4 defensively, the havoc he could cause playing the 4 defensively is right there with Giannis, AD and Draymond. Horford is a good player and whether he's better than Harris right now is debatable, the issue is will he be better than Harris next year and the year after that?

[76ciology]

Jimmy Butler is a gifted player. That's not the point. He doesn't help maximize Joel Embiid and/or especially Ben Simmons on offense. He actually competes against them for the ball and space on the court. Even if you're of the mind that Jimmy Butler is worth Max salary well into his thirties, there has to be some acknowledgement that those three players cause each other to provide diminished returns on court. The 76ers should be in the business of accentuating Simmons and Embiid, not paying premium prices to put players in that they can't coexist on court.

I think Embiid and Butler are great PLAYOFF type talents. I think Ben Simmons without a jumper is a great regular season talent that will continue to be exposed in the playoffs, Simmons and Embiid's games do not mesh and at some point Philly will have to make a decision between them (unless Simmons develops a GOOD jumper).

The problem is trying to appease both Simmons and Embiid instead of doing what's best for the team. Philly basically was as close as they could be to beating the eventual champs with Bulter and Embiid leading the way and Simmons being utilized as a defensive player. It's quite possible if you just simply replaced Simmons with RoCo(adding outside shooting to the defense although a lesser player), Philly could have gotten by Toronto and possibly won a championship this last season, had Embiid not gotten sick they may have done it anyways with Simmons and his lack of a jumper.

The biggest synergy problem for the 76ers is Ben Simmons lack of a jumper let alone the quality of that jumper and there's no telling that a 60% FT% guy will ever become respectable enough from the outside to not be a liability in the playoffs. Ben's lack of a jumper means without the ball he's been in the dunker's spot or setting picks which Embiid should be doing but instead, Embiid is sent to the 3pt line for spacing, it's just insane to do that with a talented big like Embiid.

I guess the real question is, do you want to have a strong chance at winning a championship for the next half decade or just have a good regular season team (unless Simmons gets a good jumper) for possibly a longer period of time. Without Butler you will not have a closer, you will have 1 less gamechanger in the last 2 minutes of a game. Has not watching Toronto for all these years getting knocked out of the playoffs year after year not told you anything, they sent out a fan favorite and got better as a team by having that difference maker at the end of games and ended up winning a championship.

1000%

If im only good at english i’d say the exact same thing